Google Play Services 4.4 Released! New APIs, And New Features For Existing Ones

Google has just rolled out the latest version of Google Play Services bringing it forward to version 4.4, and there are a lots of new useful things included like a couple of new APIs. New APIs are not the only new addition to the services update though as Google has added in even more new features to the APIs that were already there. Let go ahead and get started going though the changes.

For starters, Google has added in new features for the Street View API, allowing for developers to take their application and add in imagery for street view as well as added extensions for indoor maps. The new features for the Street View API allows for devs to programatically control the user experience, while the indoor maps feature changes allow for a custom level picker and the ability to specify the active levels of buildings. The location API has also been updated. Now with the location API, there are two new activity trackers that can be added into applications. Developers can now set their app to detect running and walking activities.

When it comes to new APIs, we’re looking at two new APIs that developers can take advantage of when building stuff into their apps. The first new API is centered around mobile ads, and is called the In-App Purchases API. It allows for publishers to include an IAP add with in the app that allows for users to directly buy the advertised content or virtual goods, right from within the app just by tapping the add. Lastly Google has updated Google Play Services with the addition of the new Wallet Fragment API. This new API is pretty self explanatory, but it allows for developers to take an already existing application and integrate Google Wallet Instant Buy right into it. Google specifies that the rollout for this Google Play Services update has been completed and that the SDK is now available through the Android SDK manager. You can check the link below for any more information or details that you may need for implementing these APIs or new features, and don’t forget to check out the DevBytes video posted below as well going over everything in the latest update.